Vale Neville Bienke

[Guest JRMobile]

Just picked this up in our local paper:

 

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/12/22/lismore-pilot-crash-fatality-bienke/

 

Neville was a fixture around our airport, it will be strange, not to see him pottering around his hangar and crop duster. Our thoughts are with his family this Christmas.

 

John

 

 

[dazza 38]

My condolences to his family.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

I have never met the man, but have heard his name mentioned in crop-duster circles often. He was well respected in his profession.

 

It can be a lucrutive but tough game, and powerlines are very indiscriminate in who they take.

 

We lost another very experienced ag-pilot up in the North this year (Ian Bourke) who also was a victim of a powerline. Also a very experienced ag-pilot in his 60s.

 

condolences to Nevilles' family.

 

 

[Guy s]

It will be sad not to see him pottering around his hanger and chatting with him as he had a vast knowledge on flying and was always happy to share his knowledge.

 

Having taught me to fly a few years ago, very sad

 

Condolences to Neville's family.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Ag-pilots in my book are by far the best flyers. Unlike airline pilots who spend much of their time sipping coffee trying to stay awake, the ag-pilot earns his wings every inch of the way.

 

Mostly low-level, and always in and around powerlines, their flying skills have to be spot-on, or it's over.

 

The very experienced gentleman in his 60s we lost up here this year, could have easily quit years ago and been quite comfortable. They fly for the love of flying.

 

A good aviator will always be missed around an airport, by those who admired him.

 

 

[dunlopdangler]

damn!!! A sad loss of a great bloke...he will be missed:crying:

 

 

[blueshed]

Hi Everybody,

 

sorry for Neville and his family! Very sad and Hard to take, saw him in Moree a day or two before!

 

Just wanted to clear up some misleading information in the media report. There is one powerline on the property which Neville was spreading and it is no where near where he would have been working, I have sprayed this farm myself, must admit though no this summer as yet! However earlier in the year!

 

From the horses mouth I do not believe he hit a Powerline!

 

Is there any report from the investigation team as yet?

 

RIP Neville

 

 

[Guest Tsemler]

Nothing yet Guy, Just a short inital summary,

 

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2010/aair/ao-2010-110.aspx

 

 

[helen bienke]

Neville Bienke

 

Hello everyone, just a quick thankyou for your support. Neville is my soul mate and the love of my life. Flying is his first love and I'm his second and I sincerely mean that, flying is part of who he is.

 

He loved anything that flew, and highly respected his fellow aviators. The ATSB have ruled out environmental and pilot error as causes and are slowly going thru a process of elimination, so far the prop, tail section and cables have been all been cleared. They are finding it difficult as the avionics and gps are not able to be used in their endeavour to determine a cause. medical has not yet been completed as there are still outstanding bloodwork results. Neville was a very skilled and capable pilot. He was very aware of safety and would not fly if he felt uncomfortable, or it was too windy or there was a storm. He used to say "it's not worth it" and no one would sway him. He made sure his students were skilled to a level that he could send them off into the wild blue yonder with the knowledge he had done his level best to ensure their safe return. I dont understand how or why this has happened. Thankyou once again for your support, everyone has been really great. Enjoy your flying, be safe and don't forget to tell those you love that u love them cause you never know what might happen.

 

Regards, Helen and the kids - Nicole and Scott, Georgia and Scott, Alison and Shane, Rachel and Nathan and Justin and Donna.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Great to read your post Helen. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Neville, but I have heard his name mentioned fondly many times in ag circles. I know he was a fine and proud aviator. Thank you for joining us all on this forum, and the best of luck to you and the family in the future.We hope to hear from you again soon.............................................regards Ross

 

 

[Guest JRMobile]

Thanks for keeping us up to date Helen and welcome to the forum.

 

Cheers John